Method of installing inserts in flues of hot blast stoves



April l6, 1940,

v P. E. ANGLE IAETHOD 0 F INSTALLING INSERTS IN FLUES 0F HOT BLAST STOVES Filed Jan. 3,- 1939 FIG. 1.

Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES IWETHODI)! INSTALLING INSERTS IN FLUES F HOT BLAST STOVES Philip E. Angle, Sharon, Paa

Application January 3,

4 Claims.

This invention aims to provide an improved method for installing inserts in the so called checker fiues 'of hot blast stoves, such as used for preheating blast air introduced into a blast furnace. I

It is broadly old to insert fillers made of refractory clay in the checker fiues to increase the heating surface and capacity of the stoves. However, as these stoves are of great height, sometimes having flues at least '70 feet high, great difliculty has been encountered, it being evident that if an insert of friable refractory material is dropped by gravity the same is apt to break and plug the flue. In practice heretofore, the inserts have been lowered in place by the costly and time consuming method of lowering them to the bottom of the flue by the use of a bag, opening the bag by a suitable device and then-withdrawing it to the top. This is a' slow and costly procedure which my present invention aims to overcome.

In accordance with my improved method, I merely drop the inserts in the tops of the fiues and utilize a fluid to retard the rate at which the inserts fall so as to prevent their breakage.

The invention will be more fully apparent from the following detailed disclosure, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a hot blast stove, an intermediate portion being broken away so as to enable illustration on a feasible scale;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through a portion of a hot blast stove, showing the inserts in place; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section similar to the lower portion of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeralers or compressors and thence to the blast furnace, in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. 1

It has heretofore been proposed to introduce 56 additional absorption elements into the checker through the checker flues on its way to the blow-,

1939, Serial No. 249,101

fiues in the form of inserts, such as indicated at l8 in the drawing. These inserts frequently take the form of spherical bodies of refractory clay. Such material is friable or brittle and, if dropped from the top of a line in the furnace, there is risk of breakage with the result of clogging the flue. Lowering the inserts by the use of canvas bags, as hereinabove referred to, is a slow and costly operation. It is a particular feature of my invention to provide an improved method whereby 10 the buoyant effect of a liquid medium is employed so that the rate of descent of the inserts dropped in at the top of the flue is lessened. In accordance with my invention, Ipreferably provide, at the bottom of each flue, a support, such as indi- 15 cated at 20, which may conveniently have a central opening 22 and a plurality. of peripheral grooves 24. These grooves will provide a passageway 'for gas or air from the chamber 26 upwardly in the event that one of theinserts should inadvertently seat itself over the opening 22 of the flue support. All openings in the hot blast stove, such as cleaning doors, gas inlets, blow off openings and chimney valves, are closed, whereupon the stove is filled with water to a point near the top level 28 of the checker flues. With a flue filled with water, the clay inserts are dropped in at the top of each flue and their falling velocity is retarded by the water, thus preventing damage to either the inserts themselves or to the fiues. 30

While water is the preferredand cheapest medium to be employed 'for this retarding action, it is contemplated that other liquids could be used, or the buoyant effect of an upwardly directed volume of gas or air might be employed. It will be understood that workmen, in' charging the fiues with the inserts, may enter through a manhole 30 by removing the door 32 and platform cover-plate 34. Y

While I have described specifically a preferred 40 method embodying my invention as herein disclosed, it is not to be understood that I am limited thereto, since various changes may be made within the scope of the subjoined claims without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The method of installing inserts in upright fiues of hot blast stoves which comprises-dropping the inserts in the fiues and introducing in said flue a buoyant medium sufficient to retard the rate at which the inserts fall to their respective positions of rest so as to prevent breakage thereof.

' 2.-The method of installing inserts in upright 66 fines of great height which comprises placing the inserts in the fiues and introducing in said flue an upwardly directed fluid to retard the rate at which the inserts fall to their respective positions of rest so as to prevent breakage of such inserts.

3. The method of installing inserts in the upright checker flues of hot blast stoves which comprises supplying the dues with a buoyant liquid and dropping the inserts therein so as to retard their rate of descent and thereby prevent breakage thereof.

4. The method of installing inserts in the upright checker flues of hot blast stoves which comprises supplymg the fiues with water and dropping the inserts into such water container so as to retard their rate of descent and thereby prevent breakage thereof.

P E. ANGLE. 

